Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

Ryu-na Choi, an 18-year-old ethnic Korean Chinese underwent a twelve-hour burn surgery at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital on November 26.

It was her 29th burn surgery. Since she got three-degree burn on 95 percent of her body from a gas explosion in Yanji, China, in July 2003. Her mother, who saved her to life from the flames, died three days later. With the care of her grandmother, she received 28 skin grafts under general anesthesia ten times in China, and 18 in Korea.

Until she grew to be 163cm tall, she had to undergo endless skin grafts for her entire body by taking her undamaged head skin. She was in great pain as her body was growing, while her skin remained unchanged, causing her whole body to shrink itself.

The total surgery expenses of more than 200 million Won were donated by China and Korea. The latest operation was also possible through a donation of 21 million Won from two Korean welfare organizations. “She will have to get surgeries for the rest of her life. This time, we widened her nostril, which had raised a breathing problem, and removed her sagging facial skin,” a hospital official said after the surgery.

Hangang has been frequented by many burn patients from home and abroad, as it has widely been known as a reliable, specialized burn care facility.

By Jong Hun Im, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)